soften up

英 [ˈsɒfn ʌp]

美 [ˈsɔːfn ʌp]

（求助于人之前）讨好，安抚

柯林斯词典

• PHRASAL VERB (求助于人之前)讨好，安抚
  If yousoftensomeoneup, you put them into a good mood before asking them to do something.
  1. If they'd treated you well it was just to soften you up.
     他们要是对你好，也不过是为了讨好你罢了。

双语例句

• The material has begun to soften up.
  材料开始变软了。
• Soften up a prospective buyer with soft-sell tactics
  用诱劝等软推销手法软化未来的买主
• The frozen earth begins to soften up at the beginning of spring every year.
  每年一开春，冻土就开始融化。
• His strategy was to soften them up with compliments.
  他的策略是用恭维话来打动他们。
• When I think you sat in a wheelchair to soften me up.
  你居然坐轮椅，跟我装可怜。
• This cream will soften up your skin.
  这种面霜会使你皮肤柔软。
• The answer-I need to soften myself up ( for half an hour or so) before going to bed.
  答案是，在上床睡觉之前，我会花点时间，大约半小时，来放松自己。
• Soften me up for the big guns, eh?
  先软化我，再用厉害的武器，是吗？
• First they would "soften up" an island, weakening the resistance by shelling the enemy strongholds with bombs from offshore ships.
  首先他们会“软化”该岛，以离岸船舰发射炮弹摧毁敌人的防线，削弱他们的守卫。
• All the while, soften her up by telling her how much you admire her dedication or analytical prowess.
  并且你可以通过一直告诉她你有多佩服她的付出和分析能力来让她软化。